Picture frame



July 27 1926.. 1,594,339

J. W. ROBERTSON PICTURE FRAym Filed Sept. 29, 1925 v I INVENTOR I JamWkoazersazv ATTORNEYS Patented July 27, 1926.

JOHN W. ROBERTSON, OF TUCKAHOE, NEW YORK.

PICTURE Application filed September 29, 1525.

metallic frame of this character so constructed that it may be supportedupon the polished surface of a table or desk without danger of marringor scratching the same.

A further object is to; provide a frame which permits of the readyinsertion or removal of a picture without the necessity for removingbrads or other securing devices, and without requiring the services of askilled artisan.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of thischaracter which will be neat and attractive in appearance, simple andinexpensive to manufacture, rugged and durable in use, and either sefsupporting or adapted for association with any type of conventionalsupporting means.

With the above noted and other objects in view, the invention consistsin certain novel features of construction, and combinations andarrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth. andpointed out in the claims.

The invention may be more fully understood from the followingdescription in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein- Fig. 1is a perspective view of a picture frame embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view.

Fig. 4 is a view in rear elevation taken on a reduced scale.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing the bevel whichprevents the sliding lock from slipping and facilitates its insertion.

I have arbitrarily elected to show the invention as applied to arectangular frame although it may have a wide field of usefulness. 1

The frame illustrated is formed of sheet metal and may convenientlyinclude 2. rectangular front framing section 10 connected to the outermarginal edges of which are rearwardly extending side flanges 11, topflange 12 and bottom flange 13. By reference to Figure 2 it will benoted that the FRAME.

Serial No. 59,354.

flange 13 terminates short of the flanges 11 and 12, and that the latterterminate in inwardly turned guide rails 14 and 15 respectively.

The front of the frame may be decorated in any a proved manner as by theprovision of punc ed-out ornamental openings 16. Obviously the manner inwhich the frame is decorated is quite in'imaterial to the presentinvention, and various types of plans or ornate frames might be used.The usual glass window 17 is held against the frame section 10 by arectangular framing and spacer member 18. A picture 19 is supported 7within the spacer frame 18 and behind the picture there may be laid oneor more filling sheets 20 of suitable thickness to lie flush with therear edge of the flange 13.

A sliding back 21, preferrably covered with felt, velvet or similar softcushioning fabric 22, is of a thickness corresponding to the distancebetween the last filling sheet 20 and the inner faces of the guide rails14 and 15. It will be noted that the flange 13 is provided with no guiderail so that the backing may be readily slid into position under therails from the lower end of the frame. The back may carry the usualeasel 23, preferably covered with the same material which is used tocover the back. Swinging movement of the easel is limited by flexiblestrip 24.

The back may also be provided with a pair of eyes or other hangers 25near its up per end for receiving the ends of a length of picture wire(not shown), an important feature of the invention is the provision of acutaway portion 26 at the lower rear corner of each flange 11communicating with cutaway portions 27 at the lower end of each rail 14.Due to this construction the lower edge of the felt covered backing isexposed. Said backing'may either project slightly below the frame asindicated in the drawings or may come flush therewith. In any event thereduced width of the flange 13 and the cutouts 26 and 27 cooperate toeX- pose the lower edge of the back in such a manner that when thepicture is tilted rearwardly as in Figure 1 or 2, the entire weight ofthe frame will rest on the lower edge of the back. By virtue of thisarrangement I entirely eliminate the possibility of scratching thepolished surface of a desk or other article of furniture. Furthermore,the cushioning efiect minimizes to a large extent, the likelihood ofinjuring the frame or breaking the glass When the frame is carelesslyset down or dropped.

The rear edge of flange 13 is preferably bevelled as at 13 (Fig. 5) sothat there is no danger of snagging the back on a sharp edge as it isslid home. The friction between the velvet covering 22, rails 14, 15 andfiller 21 is sufficient to normally prevent the back from dropping out.when the frame is lifted from a support, and the bevelled edge 13 bitinginto the velvet aids materially in this connection.

It. will. be noted: that. there, are no brads or tacks to be.removedwhen replacing one picture with another, and that the framepermits the ready application and removal. of photographs by amechanically unskilled user. hen the frame stands up and cooperateswith. the easel; 23,. nost of the weight will. be supported} directly onthe back 22, and the back will thereby be held securely, fully projectedunder the upper rail 15*. When. the picture is hung upon; a Wall thesame result will be had since all of the Weight Will: rest upon theback, and there will be noten-deney for the back to slide out ofposition.

Vhile I have illustrated a preferred. em-

bodiment of the invention, it Will be evident that numerous slightchanges and alterations might be made Without departing from the spiritor scope of the appending claims.

I claim 2- 1. A metallic picture frame, rails turned inwardly from thefreeedges of the top and sides of the frame, the bottom of said framehaving its rear edge cut away, a fabric covered backing plate at leastas long as the frame inserta-ble under the rails through the cut awayportion in'the bottomof the frame, an easel. carried by the backingplate, the rear lower corners of the sides of the frame and the lowerends of the side rails being cut away, whereby When the frame ispartially supported in inclined position by the easel, the lower end: ofthe backing plate Will rest upon the supporting surface and the backingplate will be forced. home under the rails.

2. A device of the class described in claim 1, and wherein the cut awayrear edge at the bottom of the frame is bevelled to guide the insertionof the backing plate under the rails, and to bite into the backing plateafter its insertion.

JOHN XV. ROBERTSON.

